Iterate Weekly - Issue 50
This week we're talking about the new Substack app, Amazon's Clubhouse competitor, taking naps during the workday, MLB games streaming on AppleTV+, and "The Power of the Dog"!
Welcome to issue 50 of Iterate Weekly!
This is a big milestone. Who would have guessed that we’d make it to 50 issues without missing a single week?!
I just want to say thank you for reading each week. This project has been extremely rewarding for me. It forces me to keep up with my research and knowledge in areas that I’m passionate about. It also provides me an outlet to share my unique perspective with a growing, loyal group of readers.
As I approach one year of writing in this space, I’m reflecting on what I’ve learned. There are things I like and dislike about the current weekly format. There are topics that I’d love to dive deeper into. You’ll likely see some new content that doesn’t fit inside this tidy weekly box divided by topic.
While I find the written word to be most fulfilling, there will likely be some audio and video content in the coming months as well. I also want to offer more 1-on-1 and small group experiences around some of the topics I write about. I’m looking for new ways to help people make positive iterations in their lives.
Thank you again for being a part of the Iterate community and I’m excited to see how things grow in the next few months!
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Substack Launches an App
As you may or may not know, I write this content using Substack. It bills itself as a total solution that goes beyond just being a newsletter platform. You can host videos and podcasts on Substack in addition to standard text. And as of this week, Substack has launched a new app for iOS. Android users rest assured that a version for us is on the way soon.
On the surface, this may not seem like a huge story, but in my mind, it does signal an important shift in how the company operates.
When you’re reading this, you don’t necessarily care that it’s published on Substack right? I could use Ghost, Mailchimp, Bulletin, Revue, or a host of other ways to deliver the content to both your inbox and this website. Ideally, you’re subscribing to this content because you enjoy my work regardless of the platform.
But what if you discover my writing while scrolling through the new Substack app? On one hand, it’s great that you discovered me. On the other hand, does it devalue the connection? Is my writing just another post in an endless scroll of content on the Substack app?
Substack promises that all of the mechanisms will still work the same way. Writers will still have the same direct connection to their audience. Readers of Substack publications will now just have a tidy way to read all of their subscriptions in one place while being recommended new content to check out.
Call me skeptical or maybe just old school. I value the sanctity of the inbox. And the distraction-free reading experience of a Substack publication has always appealed to me. Reading long-form content in an app while being recommended other things just seems like an inferior experience, but that’s just me.
I encourage you to check out the Substack app for yourself and let me know what you think!
🎓 Education & Art
Amazon Amps Things Up
Say what you will about the meteoric, pandemic-drive rise of popular social audio app Clubhouse. After being the talk of the tech world for a few months, many have soured on its long-term potential. In spite of that, it has spawned a slew of copycats including Spaces, Greenroom, and the new Stage Channels that came to Discord.
Now you can add Amazon to that list with their new product called Amp.
Amp is in its early days but promises to give users the ability to act as their own DJ to stream customized playlists and commentary. There are a few big names in the music scene who will be debuting radio/talk/variety shows including Pusha T and Nicki Minaj.
Just last year, social audio apps seemed like the next big thing. However, Clubhouse has seen a nosedive in activity since its peak in early 2021. And the competitive landscape hasn’t seen a dominant player emerge. Amazon feels like they could have the spiritual and commercial successor to Clubhouse with Amp.
I’ll be honest, I never really jumped on the Clubhouse bandwagon. I checked out a few rooms in the early days, but have been looking for a new option to emerge. Social audio apps just haven’t become a daily part of the average media consumer’s life just yet. Let’s see if Amazon can change that. Amp is in closed beta right now, but I’ll definitely give it a try as soon as I can.
♻️ Health & Environment
Working Remotely? Take a Nap While You Can!
I just couldn’t resist the photo of George Constanza sleeping at/in his desk.
The modern knowledge worker is tired! We’re all overworked and over-committed these days. Maybe Costanza had the solution all along, a mid-day nap! Can you imagine how much George would have slept if he was a remote worker with the Yankees?
Yes, the article is behind the pesky paywall so let me summarize it for you. Many workers were tossed into the world of remote work in early 2020. This newfound freedom let workers better map out their days. No need to necessarily work the same hours as everyone else. Feeling tired at 2 pm? Just go lay down and take a nap! No boss is watching you. You can pick up the work later on.
But what’s happening now that many of these employees are being asked to return to the office? Does the Costanza-style nap still fly when there are co-workers and bosses around? For most, the answer is obviously no. Sure there are still some hip startups with nap pods or couches in break rooms to catch a quick snooze, but most people will need to abandon their nap.
I’m not much of a napper myself, but I’m all for people planning their workdays in a way that suits them. Are you taking workday naps? Are there other things that you may be sacrificing if you’re returning to a traditional workplace environment?
🛍 Grab Bag
Apple Gets Into Streaming Sports
There is always something to talk about in the streaming battles, right?
I was actually quite surprised to see Apple announce that they’re getting the exclusive rights to some marquee MLB baseball games.
Apple TV+ will stream Friday night doubleheaders throughout the upcoming major league baseball season. These games will be exclusive to the platform and there will be no annoying blackout rules in local TV markets. In addition to the live games, they also plan on airing a daily studio show that breaks down scores and highlights from around the league.
This seems like a great first foray into live sports for Apple, except for just one thing. There is a labor dispute going on right now with no clear consensus on when the MLB season will actually start. Most are saying things will get resolved by May, but who knows?
Let’s assume that games will be played in May. How many viewers will find their way to Apple TV+? I’ll admit that I’m a subscriber (mostly for watching Ted Lasso) but I’m not regularly opening the app to see what’s new. I imagine there are plenty of people like me who are casual sports fans who happen to have a subscription. I’ll definitely tune in on a Friday night to see how the broadcast compares to ESPN or Fox.
It’s always good to see a new competitor in the world of sports broadcasting!
💬 Quote of the Week
“An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.”
— Winston Churchill
🎥Content Recommendation
The Power of the Dog
My quest to watch all of the Academy Award nominees continues! This week it was the excellent ”The Power of the Dog”.
This movie is a bit of a slow burn. It’s quiet, with all of the dialogue feeling very necessary. The acting is wonderful and it all leads up to an exhilarating ending. It seems like a very worthy contender for this year’s best picture winner.
With less than two weeks until the Academy Awards, I’m excited to see how the race plays out!
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
Well done, Chris! This golden jubilee is an exciting milestone. Looking forward to all the format experiments you have lined up for Iterate. Cheers!